Need Ideas

[Craig Matheny]

My son-in-law just got hired as the head coach at USC for their Men's Crew team.. However in that process he also got a small budget and needs to raise money to repair 3 boats $15,000.00.... This is not a donation Request:rolleyes:... My wife suggested to them an idea of making some pens and a few crew boats and then sell them off with the names of the alumni on them and the next thing you know it is on my plate to make. I only see one issue the bending of the wood for the outer skin. I thought maybe a veneer or a thin acrylic heated and formed any ideas are needed as I am on a very short time line.

Thank you All...

[Mike Null]

Just ask the football coach. They pay players more than that.

Sorry for the snide remark--just couldn't resist.

My niece's team at IU sold t-shirts pretty successfully.

[Martin Boekers]

They name venues why not boats? Sponsorships!

[Craig Matheny]

The one advantage we have is on top of the laser work and wood work, my wife owns an embroidery and screen printing business, So we have a lot of avenues to help just fishing for ideas. Right now working on an 8 seat crew boat I will post as I progress it will be covered in Veneer of some sort if all comes to pass
206325

[Martin Boekers]

Hmmm this might be an interesting test for the BoxIt software. Maybe someone with it could pop
up a file for you quickly.

[Greg Bednar]

As I understand it, every crew has it's own oar design/colors. Here is one I did as a rush job for a crew in Ohio. It was output to a lamicoid in colors that matched the crew colors - Just a suggestion. It turned out really well. It is saved in V10. I hope this helps. PS: Yes, you may notice the lines are a little "askew." This is the "sample"!

[Craig Matheny]

All avenues being pursued just looking at what we can do as a thank you to the sponsorships

[Dee Gallo]

The one advantage we have is on top of the laser work and wood work, my wife owns an embroidery and screen printing business, So we have a lot of avenues to help just fishing for ideas. Right now working on an 8 seat crew boat I will post as I progress it will be covered in Veneer of some sort if all comes to pass
206325

Craig, looks like a perfect situation for mini-airplane dope application. Your wife could print or embroider on some nylon and then you glue it in place.

Regarding your previous question, it's pretty easy to bend acrylic. I bought a used toaster over at a yard sale for $2 and it works like a charm. Just cover your form with Reynold's Non-Stick foil and place the cutout on it. I wear oven gloves to shape the plastic more perfectly to the form. The tricky part for you would be to make it fit a frame. I'd design something that is a bit more freeform, not so "perfect"...maybe something which suggests movement and does not need a frame under it.

You might also consider something less complicated, like a nice oar.

cheers, dee

[Duncan Crawford]

Hmmm this might be an interesting test for the BoxIt software. Maybe someone with it could pop
up a file for you quickly.

Hmmm... :-) BoxIt will do curves, but not tapered curves like the pointy ends of the boat. The one macro in the set that will do tapers will do four sides, no more, and they need to be straight. You can nest them, as for a shadowbox, but no octagonal flowerpots. I asked the tech support guy about that a few months back when I bought the software, and as I recall was told that the thinking at the time was 'no market' (in the awards industry) for that more sophisticated capability. So, for a nice crew boat with low prismatic coefficient, BoxIt could do a center section box frame, but the ends would need to be done differently and added on. Based on Craig's picture, I'm thinking he's on the right track-- skin a frame with wood thins/veneer, assuming there's a reasonable way to clamp/glue/wire in place.

Then again, perhaps just do a frame as shown, no skin, and add stylized laser-cut/engraved "crew" at appropriate locations. Assuming former crew lists were available, maybe the alumni organization could pitch a 'boat' with all the names of a given crew, with boat name or number?

Another thought, rather more mundane, might be an engraved picture of a boat, with names-- either on wood or black marble? Set it on a nice base...

duncan

[Craig Matheny]

Craig, looks like a perfect situation for mini-airplane dope application. Your wife could print or embroider on some nylon and then you glue it in place.
Dee you lost me after "perfect situation for" what is a mini-airplane dope application?

[Dee Gallo]

Airplane dope is a glue type thing that model makers use to apply a tight skin to model airplanes. Maybe it's old technology, it's been ages since I made any models...

edit: from Wiki: Aircraft dope is a plasticised (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticizer) lacquer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacquer) that is applied to fabric-covered (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_fabric_covering) aircraft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft). It tautens and stiffens fabric stretched over airframes and renders them airtight and weatherproof.

[David Fairfield]

The model is a nice idea. If I were making more than one model of a boat, I would vac form the hulls from sheet styrene, and laser cut the seats and oarlocks and other details. Then laser a wood base, a clear plexi display case and a nameplate.

[David Fairfield]

Also check out the cutaway "2.5 Dimensional" models on this guy's website. They are beautifully made, relatively simple to manufacture and look high class. I have seen them in maritime museum gift shops, they ain't cheap.

http://www.unlimiteddetails.com/maritime-cutaways.html

[Dee Gallo]

Along the same lines, I was thinking about a plaque with half a shell mounted on there. It would be a lot easier to make than a whole one and better for adding names, slogans, years, etc.

[Martin Boekers]

Airplane dope is a glue type thing that model makers use to apply a tight skin to model airplanes. Maybe it's old technology, it's been ages since I made any models...

edit: from Wiki: Aircraft dope is a plasticised (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticizer) lacquer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacquer) that is applied to fabric-covered (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_fabric_covering) aircraft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft). It tautens and stiffens fabric stretched over airframes and renders them airtight and weatherproof.


Dee that takes me back! I remember the first plane I made. I was about 8-9 years old and the pattern
was printed on balsa wood sheets to be cut with an Exacto Knife. It wasn't the best thing I ever made, but it did fly!

It was there I learned patience and frustrating. If I remember correctly frustration won out! ;-)

[Mark Ross]

Repair boats? Can't you just use that spray rubber they show on TV? The one where they cut the bottom out and replace it with a screen door? (lol)

[Craig Matheny]

Repair boats? Can't you just use that spray rubber they show on TV? The one where they cut the bottom out and replace it with a screen door? (lol)
That is funny I just saw that commercial on Sunday Morning.

Thanks for the input

[Chuck Stone]

edit: from Wiki: Aircraft dope is a plasticised (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticizer) lacquer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacquer) that is applied to fabric-covered (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_fabric_covering) aircraft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft). It tautens and stiffens fabric stretched over airframes and renders them airtight and weatherproof.

and a lot of those planes are still flying and carrying passengers. I remember when I first found out that
the plane I was getting into was covered in fabric and dope.. I didn't want to get in!
I haven't done any building in 20+ years, but I think you can still get small (.5 pt) bottles of
dope for somewhere in the $10 range

[Bill Cunningham]

I learned to fly in a 65 hp Aeronca Champ which was a fabric/dope covered aircraft. Even had to start it by hand spinning the wooden prop.. Nice old plane, fun to fly..

[Chuck Stone]

I remember my dad trying to convince me to get into a 1938 Ercoupe after I had
seen the fabric waving in the breeze. It was re-done by then, but I knew it was
not much thicker than the tent in the back yard.. and i knew how sturdy *that* was..

[Bruce Clumpner]

Craig,

Sorry, never did connect about the HP Server, but here's a suggestion a bit different from the others. I use the 2" cube paperweights from RB Fabrication engraved with a commemorative message for my thank you's (sp?) it's a great little shape, and allows you 3 different faces to put messages, so you could put the sponsor's name, USC's logo and the Crew info, and they can keep it on their desk.

Take a look at their web site, and they're just there in Orange on Batavia.

-bc

[Bill Cunningham]

I remember my dad trying to convince me to get into a 1938 Ercoupe after I had
seen the fabric waving in the breeze. It was re-done by then, but I knew it was
not much thicker than the tent in the back yard.. and i knew how sturdy *that* was..

A good friend of mine had one of those, except his was a later model, and made from metal. I took the controls only once, it was a weird plane to fly, it had no rudder peddles. Turn and bank were done at the same time by the control column(wheel).. It was the only light plane that could not go into a accidental spin, and the only plane that could be flown by a legless individual..

[Craig Matheny]

Bruce not an issue PM me when you get time or call we will get it done.